Jeffrey Osborne: Showstopper returns to Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival
The musical apple does not fall far from the tree! Jeffrey Osborne’s father, Clarence “Legs” Osborne, played trumpet with Lionel Hampton, Count Basie, and Duke Ellington. Apparently predisposed to a lifelong affinity for music, the talented Jeffrey Osborne was born the youngest of 12 children in Providence, Rhode Island. There had to be something to that genetic predisposition thing, because his five brothers and six sisters all went into music careers. In fact, Osborne’s brother Billy was a bandmate with him in L.T.D.
Osborne started his music career in 1970 with a band called Love Men Ltd., which would later become L.T.D., probably most well known for the smash hit, “(Every Time I Turn Around) Back in Love Again”, followed by “Concentrate on You,” “Love Ballad” and “Holding On (When Love Is Gone).”
Jeffrey started out as a drummer, sharing lead vocals with his brother Billy. In 1978 he became the group’s primary lead vocalist, leaving L.T.D. in 1980 to start a solo career. It seems like that was a good idea, considering his solo efforts would include five gold and platinum albums!
In 1982, the hits, gold and platinum just kept on coming, leaving us with such tunes as “On the Wings of Love”, “I Really Don’t Need No Light”, “Don’t You Get So Mad” and “Stay with Me Tonight.” Osborne’s talents were not just limited to vocals, however. In 1985, he wrote the lyrics to Whitney Houston’s “All at Once” and in the same year appeared on USA for Africa’s fundraising single, “We Are the World”.
Osborne’s silky smooth voice can be heard on the theme song of the soap opera, Loving, as well as the first-season theme song for the Kirstie Alley TV comedy, Veronica’s Closet.
Two more gold albums followed, and in 1987 Osborne had the highest-charting hit of his career, pairing with Dionne Warwick on “Love Power” and topping the Adult Contemporary singles chart.
Though subsequent albums and singles never garnered quite as much acclaim, he marked the new millennium with a triumphant return to Adult R&B radio with chart singles, “Rest of Our Lives” and his cover of Barbara Mason’s classic “Yes, I’m Ready.”
It seems especially appropriate to mention that in 2008, Osborne sang the national anthem before Game 4 of the NBA Finals in Los Angeles, repeating that feat in 2009 before Game 1 of the 2009 NBA Finals, and yet again in 2010 before Game 1 of the NBA Finals in Los Angeles. In the world of baseball, he performed the national anthem prior to Game 3 of the 1988 World Series, doing it again two years later at Game 3 of the 1990 World Series in Oakland, California. He also regularly sang the national anthem before Hartford Whalers games.
In addition to a number of television and film appearances, Osborne received the 2014 New England Pell Award for Artistic Excellence from Providence, Rhode Island’s Trinity Repertory Company in honor of his artistic achievements and philanthropic work.
On Saturday, October 15th, Jeffrey Osborne will appear at 4 p.m. at the Baycenter in Dewey Beach with special guest Gerald Albright. Reserve your seat now to hear these legendary performers.
